Frank Turner: 'Biffy and Frightened Rabbit are a huge inspiration'

Frank Turner has hailed the influence of Frightened Rabbit and Biffy Clyro on his music, going as far to cover them on his upcoming EP.

The Polaroid Picture EP features Frank's take on the staple F'Rabbit track 'Modern Leper' and the Biffy classic 'Who's Got A Match'.

Speaking to Gigwise about why he chose these tracks, Turner said: "They're songs that I'm a big fan of. Biffy and I both have a fair amount of history. We played a lot of shows together back in the day, even with my old band Million Dead. They're old friends and it seemed like a song that I could find an interesting angle on."

He continued: "Simon (Neil) from Biffy has been a really decent human being to me over the past couple of years because he's one of my go-to people for advice. Obviously what they do is a couple of steps ahead of what I do from a business point of view, but he's been a really good friend in terms of giving me his thoughts."

Listen to Frank Turner covering 'Who's Got A Match' below

Explaining his relationship with Frightened Rabbit, Turner said: "They are a band that I'm obsessed with in the sense that I think they're absolute genius. Scott (Hutchison) is now a friend of mine, after I kept bullying him. I kept tracking him down at festivals at shouting 'hi' and he kept whimpering and replying 'I don't know who you are'. Again, 'Modern Leper' is one of my favourite songs of Scott's."

Turner added: "Scott and I have a great relationship in the sense that we're both at a very similar point career-wise and have been for a while. We compare notes, shall we say. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Scottish indie bands anyway."

When asked if he has any hopes or plans to collaborate with Biffy or Frightened Rabbit in the future, Frank replied: "I would hesitate to say that about Biffy because they have their own thing going on, but Scott and I have long conversations about songwriting and playing together - whether or not will ever amount to anything in the sober light of day is a different question. Maybe, we'll see."

Frank Turner will release the Polaroid Picture EP on 3 February, 2014 before embarking on a full UK arena tour. Dates are as follows: